Trump Administration Aims to Thwart Transgender Student Rights
NEWS & RESEARCH
In 2025, President Trump signed executive orders to roll back transgender rights, leading his Administration to penalize schools that accommodate students based on gender identity. Actions include filing lawsuits against inclusive sports policies, launching civil rights investigations into school gender policies, and terminating settlements designed to ensure equal educational opportunity for transgender students.
SOURCES: PBS News | New York Times
ANALYSIS & OPINION
Advocates and experts have condemned these policies:
National Women’s Law Center: Termed the exclusion of trans women from sports "lawless and transphobic."
Inside Higher Ed: Warned that scrapping civil rights settlements "erodes the relationship" between schools and the federal government.
American Association for Reproductive Medicine: Stated the administration's proposals are "unsupported by science."
SOURCES: Inside Higher Ed | UCS Blog | National Women’s Law Center
HOW TO FIX IT
Federal Action:
Pass the Equality Act: Codify explicit nondiscrimination protections for all LGBTQI+ Americans.
Adopt the Transgender Bill of Rights: Formalize a federal commitment to protecting transgender and nonbinary people.
Protect Inclusive Sports: Block federal bans on transgender athletes and support legal challenges to such restrictions.
State Action:
Expand Protections: Model legislation after Maryland to guarantee equal access to sports, admissions, and school facilities.
Legal Challenges: Contest the federal government’s authority to dictate discriminatory school policies.
Legislation: H.R.15 - Equality Act
